Issue #85 January/February, 2004

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Articles listed in red are available to read online. Just click on the listing

DEPARTMENTS

8  Publisher’s Note 9  Editorial:       Shades of truth and sleaziness 21  Book Review: The Self-Reliant Homestead 26  Ask Jackie:       Canning chili, dehydrated fruit, cabbage recipes, fencing livestock, dehydrating onions, goat cheese, preserving tomatoes, and many more 67  The gee-whiz! page 68  Irreverent joke page 71  BHM Survey 74  Ayoob on Firearms:       How to shoot a handgun accurately 88  Letters 90  Classified ads (pdf) 90  Classified advertising form 93   Advertiser Index 95   BHM anthologies, CD-ROMs, & books 96-97  Order form/Subscription Info 98  The last word:       The world is ending!...again?

ABOUT THE COVER      Jeff Yago’s initial goal didn’t include building a solar home. He wanted it to be so energy efficient that it could easily operate on only solar electricity and propane heat. After the recent wrath of Hurricane Isabel, many of Yago’s Virginia neighbors waited up to two weeks for power and water to be restored. His home’s automatic power system met all their energy needs until the local power grid was restored.   For a subscription Call Toll Free 1-800--835-2418

FEATURES

Self-reliance 24  Shopping to beat inflation   By Darlene Campbell Independent energy 61  Solar & propane powered super home   By Jeffrey R. Yago P.E, CEM Gardening 18  Benefits of mulching   By Tom Kovach 36  Grow your own dishrags   By Alice Yeager 50  Exotic plants for the homestead   By Corcceigh Green 70  The $12 self-aerating compost bin   By Rick Brannan 86  Water and winter tree injury   By Tom Kovach Animals 19  Raising cattle on your own place   By Charles Sanders 45  Selecting a breed of chicken   By Sylvia Gist Country living 22  Birch tree syrup   By Cynthia Andal 53  Wild neighbors, Part 2   By Jackie Clay 72  The “chocolate tree” isn’t just for kids   By Rev. J.D. Hooker Homeschooling 79  A homeschooling lesson in physics   By John Silveira       Why do rockets work? Newton’s Three Laws of Motion 82  Homeschooling Jacob — The basics of writing   By Dave and Jacob Duffy Small Town America 40  Thermopolis, WY — Horses and hot springs   By Emily Salinger